A note from the Task Force Director.
When I was asked to be TFD on this Task Force, I was a little overwhelmed at first because I understood the weight of being the “Director.” I accepted with an open heart and jumped right in on planning an unforgettable week for these “invisible heroes,” AKA military wives.
After welcoming the ladies at the airport, we grabbed a quick bite at the Local, then headed to headquarters for swag and merch, and then we were off to Alpine Falls Ranch in Superior. The four-hour drive allowed for a fun “ice breaker”, conversations, and naps as everyone was sleepy from early flights, full bellies, and some good ole Montana sunshine streaming into the van windows.
We arrived at the ranch where the fall colors were on full display. The staff was incredibly thoughtful and attentive to our every need. The ladies settled into our chalet and got a good night's sleep.
Our days started around a table with coffee and conversations. Then homemade breakfasts, and the anticipation of the day's activity. Everyone was on bear watch, hoping for a surprise visitor outside the kitchen windows. A few of us were lucky enough to see 3 Moose in a wallow near the chalet.
We packed our time together with a variety of activities and memorable experiences, including skeet shooting, while dodging wild turkeys at the end of the range. The SXS drive to Diamond Lake was a dusty racetrack where we enjoyed lunch at the lake and then a beautiful hike to Cliff Lake. Horseback riding through the massive 850-acre ranch and experiencing the autumn colors up close was magical, and then enjoying a picnic in a meadow before our ride home made it the full Montana experience. We enjoyed petting the local miniature donkeys (Appletini) and the moody mother/daughter/ granddaughter trio (Scottish Highland) cows Peggy, Luanne & Betsy, massages, hot tubbing, bonfires, and stargazing at night. Our deep conversations at night turned into meaningful connections, creating fast friendships. We wrapped up the week with a visit to Quinn Hot Springs. The drive along the Clark Fork River winds through breathtaking landscapes, made even more dazzling by the colors of fall. And before we knew it, it was time to pack up and say goodbye. But this time, instead of hugging as strangers, it felt like hugging family goodbye.
In retrospect, I don't know if I would be brave enough to go on a trip with 9 women I’ve never met before. I know how hard it is, as a mother, to leave on a trip (all the pre-planning), and for some of them, it was their first trip away from their families. So, I want to thank these ladies for trusting us to leave their children, husbands & jobs to spend a week in the Montana wild.
I have nothing but gratitude for my two volunteers, M. & L. Your daily support, work ethic, problem-solving, jokes & laughs helped create some lifelong memories.
And with immense gratitude, I want to thank all the donors who have financed or donated services for this week. Your kindness allows us to continue to serve these remarkable families. Being able to share our healing mountains and pour into these ladies who really needed time away and to be with other women going through the same struggles they are. It really is life-changing.
Amber Sartain
Task Force 194 Director
Volunteers to Thank
Amber Sartain, Task Force Director
M., Assistant Task Force Director
L.
Patriots to Thank
Alpine Falls Ranch
Stone Glacier
Welcome Bag Patriots: Alpine Dentistry, Anthem Snacks, FHF Gear, Graplrz, LMNT, Melissa Ferraro, onX Maps, River's Edge West, & Wild Society Coffee.
“I’m leaving Montana with a heart that feels incredibly full.
I’m beyond grateful to Big Sky Bravery for giving me the opportunity to experience this weeklong military spouse retreat. What I expected to be an amazing adventure turned into something so much deeper and more meaningful than I could have imagined.
There is something incredibly powerful about being surrounded by people who just get it. No explanations needed. No need to put into words the unique challenges, sacrifices, pride, uncertainty, and strength that come with being a military spouse. There was an immediate sense of belonging, a feeling of being understood, seen, and accepted exactly as I am.
The camaraderie, the conversations, the laughter, the vulnerability, and the friendships made this experience truly unforgettable. I was reminded how important it is to have a community that understands not just the life we live, but the person we are within it.
I’m leaving with a deeper sense of gratitude, not only for this incredible opportunity, but for the people I met, the memories I’ll carry with me, and the reminder that I’m not alone in this journey.
Thank you, Big Sky Bravery, for seeing military spouses, for creating a space where we can feel seen, and for reminding us that we belong.
My heart is full.”
-TF194 Recipient
“Last week at Big Sky Bravery was one of the most meaningful and impactful experiences I've had in a very long time. It was truly an honor to be included, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
Leading up to the trip, I knew many of the activities were outside my comfort zone. The itinerary included activities that I wouldn’t normally pick. But what I didn't anticipate was how much I would be challenged to step outside my comfort zone emotionally. Opening up and allowing myself to be vulnerable with a group of women I barely knew was not something that came easily to me. Yet somehow, from the very beginning, an environment was created where vulnerability felt safe, support felt genuine, and every woman was encouraged to show up exactly as she was.
What made this experience so special was being surrounded by a group of women who had no desire to compete with one another. In a world where comparison can sometimes feel unavoidable, it was refreshing and inspiring to be part of a group where everyone genuinely celebrated each other's successes, supported one another's challenges, and respected the different journeys that brought us there. Every woman had her own story, but there was a shared understanding that created an immediate bond.
Being a SOF spouse comes with an incredible amount of responsibility. Much of it is carried quietly and privately and is not understood by those outside our community. This experience reminded me that there are other women who have walked in my shoes, faced similar challenges, and carried many of the same burdens. There was comfort in finding people who simply could relate.
As someone who is not only a SOF spouse but also has a demanding career, this was the first time in my professional life that I truly felt I could relax. For a few days, I wasn't juggling competing priorities, managing responsibilities, or focusing on what needed to happen next. I was able to be fully present, and that gift is something I didn't realize how much I needed.
The volunteers and the Task Force Director were extraordinary. Their kindness, commitment, and genuine care were felt in every detail of the experience. They created something far bigger than a program or an event. They created a space where women could connect, heal, laugh, challenge themselves, and be understood.
Perhaps the greatest gift of all was the bond formed with the eight other women who shared this journey with me. In just a few days, complete strangers became friends whom I deeply admire and care about. The connections we made are ones I will cherish for a lifetime, and I look forward to continuing to develop and nurture those friendships in the years ahead.
I left Big Sky Bravery with far more than memories. I left with a renewed sense of gratitude, a stronger connection to this community, lifelong friendships, and the comforting knowledge that I am not alone.
Thank you to Big Sky Bravery, the volunteers, and the donors for creating a space where SOF families can feel seen, understood, and supported. The programs you provide are so much more than experiences; they are opportunities for connection, healing, and growth. The impact of your work touches not only the men and women who serve our country, but also the families who stand beside them every day, and for that I am forever grateful.”
-TF194 Recipient
“It is hard to put into words what Big Sky Bravery has meant to me. When my husband told me I was going, I was expecting a chance to relax and reset, but that was the most superficial aspect of this experience. BSB helped to reenergize my sense of community. As a spouse and working mom with two kids, I had become so focused on the minutiae of each day and of the routines built to withstand the nature of my husband’s work. BSB gave me the time and space to look around and remember what it is all for. Montana is so beautiful and the volunteers were so meticulous in the planning that the trip was seamlessly and profoundly grounding.
I am so appreciative that this program is extended to spouses; the conversations that I had with the other women were insightful and heartwarming. I gained a sense of community I thought I had lost. I made friendships that will last a lifetime because they are built on a common understanding of one another. This trip allowed me to return home feeling lighter because the burdens I thought I carried alone were actually experiences we all shared.
I will forever be grateful for the time I spent in Montana, the friendships I formed, and the opportunity to find myself again.”
-TF194 Recipient
“My time in Montana with Big Sky Bravery's TF 194 was rejuvenating to body, mind, and soul. No detail was overlooked in creating the right environment to promote self-reflection and healing. I felt safe to open up about my struggles, to try new and difficult activities (like skeet shooting), and to connect deeply with the other women participating. I also rekindled a long-dormant ability to be present. At home, as a mother and wife, I typically have a handful of tasks to complete in the moment, with even more awaiting my attention in the near future. BSB lifted that weight from my shoulders for 5 days. It honestly felt like a chance to come up for air; to connect with myself and rediscover my identity.
I firmly believe that our SOF military members are more effective when things are good at home. I'm grateful to BSB for recognizing the need to strengthen the active duty member, the spouse, and even the children. I've heard of other military retreats that are just for the active duty member, or just for couples. While those have certain benefits too, I LOVE the way that BSB brings military spouses together to build relationships and support one another. SOF life can be uniquely isolating and demanding. Having the opportunity to speak with people who understand and can relate was such a gift!
Our TF leader and volunteers were a great team. They cultivated an atmosphere of acceptance and friendliness from the very beginning of the trip. They made the trip so much fun, and also so meaningful. Each of us felt included and special. There was no judgment or comparison-just support and empathy.
Upon returning home, I felt a strong desire to be a better mother and wife. I have more energy. I feel empowered to make a difference. Thank you for your exceptional program-it is blessing so many lives!”
-TF194 Recipient
“Dear Big Sky Bravery,
My husband has served since 2006 and participated in a task force in 2018. He came back a new man. Now I know why. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to participate in a spouse task force. The experience was a chance to live unburdened by daily life and concerns, a trip I certainly never would have arranged for myself, but also a beautiful opportunity for camaraderie with other military spouses.
When I think about my day-to-day challenges, none of them seem particularly significant on their own. Throw them together all at once, add in some impromptu separations, and it’s a lifestyle that I often struggle with. The time with other military spouses was incredibly special; to share our appreciation for our spouses and all they do, while also recognizing how hard it is to support them and keep a home and family running, was so refreshing. I’ve never experienced that level of understanding before. It inspired a greater appreciation of my husband and my life and has opened up a whole new support network. I’m excited to have gained friends that I can call on when challenges come my way.
I am recharged, have a renewed commitment to my supporting role, and will go back home and work with a happy heart.
To know there are people who want to support our troops enough to offer them an opportunity to recharge away from work is incredibly generous. To know that generosity extends to keeping their families supported, too, is incredibly humbling.
Thank you.”
-TF194 Recipient
“What can I say…this trip really just was so life-changing for me, meeting such kind volunteers who recognise the weight we bare as spouses and truly make you feel like you deserve this break was amazing. The ladies on the trip were also a highlight getting to bond with women in the community from all walks of life was really heart-warming to know your not alone. Now the fun stuff, the activities were incredible from shooting to horseback riding to soaking in the hot springs. Our trip was really a blissful mix of sharing stories and new adventures to really making bonds in a community that can feel very lonely. BSB, you do an incredible job, and I felt privileged to join you from this community! I hope the spouses get to continue sharing this experience, as it really is special living very similar lives!”
-TF194 Recipient
